ClueBy
TodayArchiveWord list

Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
YesNo
↻ New worksheet

Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: board · dip · chip · can · pitcher · safe · toast · rock

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. can — a tin
  5. toast — bread
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. can — to be able to
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. rock — a stone
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. board — a committee
  14. chip — for betting
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. rock — music
  17. can — a tin
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. chip — to eat
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. dip — to sink

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com